Knee Board decisions

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for a left knee disability, low back disability, right upper extremity disability, and left upper extremity disability. The evidence did not establish an in-service injury or disease that could be linked to these disabilities.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for right and left knee disabilities, finding insufficient evidence of current disability. The issue regarding reopening the claim for left knee disability is remanded.

The case is being remanded for further development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination to assess the current severity of the left knee disability.

The Veteran's left ear hearing loss is found to be etiologically related to his active duty service. The right ear hearing loss and right knee disability are not considered service-connected.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings and an earlier effective date for TDIU were denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a higher rating or earlier effective date.

The Board found that there is no evidence linking the Veteran's current knee, back, and hip disabilities to his in-service motor vehicle accident. The Veteran's claims for these conditions were denied.

The Board found that the Veteran's left knee degenerative arthritis is not related to his service or any disease, injury, or event during service and was not caused by or aggravated by his service-connected right knee disability.

The Board has granted service connection for a left knee disorder and assigned a 20 percent rating. The Veteran's mid-back disorder is also service-connected, but the issues of bilateral ankle disorders and carpal tunnel syndrome are not addressed as they were remanded.

The Board has ordered additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the etiology of the Veteran's right knee and low back disabilities. The case is remanded for further examination and opinion.

The Veteran's left knee arthroplasty and associated follow-up care did not result in additional disability, and the Board found that there was no evidence of causation or fault on VA's part.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, low back disability, kidney disease, left knee disability, and right knee disability have been granted.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development of the evidentiary record, including obtaining a decision from SSA regarding his disability benefits and preparing an SSOC.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection of a low back disability and determined that it is due to injury incurred in active or inactive duty for training. The right knee and left knee disabilities are also found to be related to such injuries.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and a VA opinion on the etiology of the Veteran's cause of death.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for a right knee disability, claimed as secondary to his service-connected right ankle disability, is being remanded due to the need for additional development and examination.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been reopened, but the evidence does not support a grant of service connection for COPD, right shoulder disorder, left shoulder disorder, diabetes mellitus, or head injury. The Veteran is entitled to increased evaluations for focal pain syndrome with severe migraine headaches and post-traumatic scar of the left forehead.

The Veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability and a right wrist condition is granted. The Board finds that the evidence supports the Veteran's assertions of in-service onset and current symptoms, leading to a finding of service connection.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the etiology of the Veteran's bilateral knee and foot disabilities, as well as whether they are related to service. The case will be remanded for further action.

The Veteran's bilateral knee disabilities are rated at 60 percent each, and he is granted TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has reopened the Veteran's claim for service connection for a left knee disability and granted service connection for bilateral knee condition (diagnosed as DJD). The evidence is at least in equipoise as to whether the Veteran's current bilateral knee condition is related to his active military service.